Parishes across the country are fearful that the soaring cost of living and job losses due to the pandemic are “tipping people into poverty”. The Society of St Vincent de Paul – which helps people in need in every parish in Ireland – is bracing itself for record demand ahead of Christmas. Rose McGowan, national…
Month: November 2021
More diocesan re-organisation on the cards
The move by Pope Francis to put two dioceses in the west under the leadership of a single bishop is just the first phase of structural rationalisation in the Church in Ireland, The Irish Catholic understands. The Pontiff indicated last week that when Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Brendan Kelly retires shortly, the diocese…
Dublin archdiocese to seek insurance payout over Covid disruption
Dublin archdiocese is hopeful that parishes could be in line for an insurance payout to make up for lost collections when churches were forced to suspend Masses by the Government. According to the recently-filed 2020 financial report for the parishes, the archdiocese “considers there is a valid claim under the business interruption clause of the…
Research finds vast majority believe abortion alternatives should be offered
A recent poll found that the majority of people believe that women should be informed about alternatives to abortion before going ahead with the procedure, with Pro-Life Campaign spokesperson Eilís Mulroy saying women are currently being “kept in the dark about abortion alternatives”. An Amárach poll commissioned by the PLC found that 89% of 1,000…
‘Pray to stay’ – a conversion deceit?
They’ve dubbed it, sarcastically, ‘Pray to Stay’: that’s the description given to some refugees from the Middle East and North Africa who have converted to Christianity in Britain. The implication is that the 200 or so asylum seekers who have become Christians may have done so for manipulative reasons: so as to have a better…
Catholic conference seeks to shed light on Covid vaccines
An upcoming conference, Concerned about Covid-19 Vaccines?, is seeking to dispel the confusion that’s gathered around the safety and morality of Covid-19 vaccines from a Catholic and scientific perspective, according to one of the panellists, Dr Orla Nolan. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Senior Clinical Pharmacist and experienced medical safety assessor Dr Nolan said…
We must allow priests to fortify the suffering…even if it is a crime scene
The View Over the years I have been involved in the investigation of many murders which resulted from terrorist shootings and bombings, and deaths in violent situations. Such events are without question, terribly traumatising for those who are left behind – the family and friends of the person who died. My involvement has very often…
Catholic Olympian’s silver medal bid pays off
A Polish, Catholic Olympian who auctioned her silver medal in August to pay for eight-month-old Miłosz’s heart surgery, was reunited with the happy boy earlier this week following the successful surgery. Maria Andrejczyk, a devout Catholic, who credits her adherence to the Faith to her upbringing, offered to auction off the silver medal she won…
Nearly 1,000 hate crimes against Europe’s Christians recorded in 2020
According to newly published data from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the number of hate crimes against Christians in Europe rose sharply in 2020. The OSCE data, published November 16, documented 980 incidents against Christians, including arson attacks on Catholic churches, desecration and robbery of Eucharistic hosts, assaults on priests, and…
Don’t focus on ‘winning a debate’ during synod
The Pope’s call for a more collaborative Church inspired by the margins is winning hearts and minds, one of the organisers tells Chai Brady It’s no secret that Pope Francis has been met with a mixed reaction since his election in 2013. Many people have hailed his emphasis on a humble Church listening to those…